Many people are DIY-ers these days, in order to save money and not have to hire a professional. There are certain tools and power tools that are “must haves” for the home DIY-er. These will make you better prepared for common home repairs as well as unplanned projects and tasks.
Yes, you could buy one of those all-in-one home tool sets, but you’ll get more use out of it if you build your own kit. This will allow you to spend more on the tools and power tools that you plan to use more often and not so much on those you won’t be using as often.
Safety Gear
Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE, is an essential to have when working with tools and power tools. You will definitely need a pair of safety glasses, but goggles will offer much more protection against any chemical splashes. Purchase a box of latex gloves for protection against harmful or gross substances. A rugged pair of work gloves is a good thing to consider, as well as ear muffs or earplugs to protect your ears when using power tools. Also something to consider is semi-reusable or even disposable respirators so that you don’t breathe in any harmful chemicals.
Utility Knife
A utility knife is good to have for various tasks requiring cutting, and are much better to open boxes and clamshell packages than scissors. There are many different styles and brands available, and you will need to make sure to keep a few replacement blades on hand.
Multi-Bit Screwdriver
Just about every task you will do will require a different screwdriver, so a multi-bit screwdriver is usually a pretty safe piece to have, as it can handle most of your basic tasks. As long as your budget permits it, a multi-bit set is a good, solid investment and will offer much greater comfort and better ergonomics.
Tape Measure
Tape measures are essential tools, especially for new homeowners. You will use your tape measure a lot when you’re planning out your empty rooms. There is a variety of brands, sizes, styles and shapes available. The best thing to do is to have a 25 foot one for use at home and perhaps a small 10- 12-foot one that you can keep in your pocket or purse when shopping for furniture and accessories.
Hex Key Set
You will need hex keys to put together the ready-to-assemble furniture that you purchase. Sure, you’ll get a small hex key with the set, but a full-size set of hex keys can make ready-to-assemble and knock-down furniture much quicker to assemble. What’s better is if you have t-handle drivers. In order to reach fasteners in tight spots, ball hex drivers are much better, but the straight hex drivers can handle more torque. Consider purchasing an all-in-one hex key set to have around the house as well as a full sized one for furniture assembly and bicycle maintenance. You’ll need inch and metric sizes, and sometimes you can find them in a bundle together.
Hammer or Mallet
A claw hammer is good to have so that you can drive smaller nails here and there. A dead blow hammer is useful for most general pounding tasks. You will most likely need both. Dead blow hammers can be quite expensive, so you can also consider a rubber mallet instead.
LED Flashlight
There are many times when you will need a flashlight: when the power unexpectedly goes out, or when you drop something under a piece of furniture or you hear something in your yard in the middle of the night.
Wrench, Combo Wrench, Ratchet & Socket Set
You will need at least two adjustable wrenches- an 8-inch and maybe a 6- or 10-inch. You may need a 12-inch, but if you have use for that, you’re better off using a heavy duty pipe wrench. Two wrenches can accomplish quite a bit. One can hold a hex nut while the other is used to tighten or loosen a hex head bold.
Also, consider adding some combination wrenches, which offer improved clearance and greater versatility. Until your needs are more advanced, you can settle for a 9-piece metric and an 9-piece inch set.
Pliers and Cutters
Another big category is pliers and cutters. You will at least need long-nose pliers and slip-joint pliers or combination pliers. Also good to have is channel-lock or tongue in groove style pliers. If you choose pliers that already have built in cutters, you won’t need a set of diagonal cutters. If your budget allows for it, mini-bolt or heavy duty utility cutters and a wire stripper are good choices.
Saw- Hand, Hack, Corded, or Cordless
One of the major power tools you should consider is a saw. You’re going to need to cut some things someday and there are many tools and power tools that can do this. If you’re not sure what you’ll be cutting, consider a reciprocating jab saw, and purchase some good metal, wood, general, and plastic cutting blades. You’re going to want to consider a manual hand saw and a hack saw, and even a corded or cordless reciprocating saw. Most projects are best accomplished with a circular saw. You can skip the circular saw if you ask the home center or lumber yard to cut yoru boards to size for you. Most places will offer 1-2 free cuts and only charge a marginal fee for additional ones.
Cordless Drill Driver & Drill and Screwdriver Bit Set
These particular power tools can be pretty expensive, so it’s okay to hold off on purchasing one until you need it. Choosing the right one for your needs is a bit discussion on its own, so just make sure you stick with any reputable brands. Be careful of any cheap drill bits, screwdriver bits, and other accessories- you will get only what you pay for.
Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum
One of the power tools you may not think you need until you really need it would be a wet/dry vacuum. Shop vacuums are made to handle the heavier messes that your household vacuum simply can’t. An inexpensive shop vacuum will last for many years, but as with other power tools the more you spend, the more you get. A higher priced one will have a larger tank and other additional features.
Tool Box
Last, but certainly not least, you’re going to need a tool box to keep all those tools and power tools in . If you don’t have a tool box, then some of your tools and power tools may end up in your junk drawer. Even an inexpensive tool box will help to keep everything in one place. As your collection grows, your tool box will need to as well.
